France Archives - Pension Policy International

21FebFebruary 21, 2025

France. Pensions: a deficit of 30 billion euros in 2045 without new reform

The Court of Auditors unveiled this Thursday an alarming report on the future of the pension system in France, commissioned by François Bayrou to serve as a basis for negotiations between social partners. According to its projections, the deficit would reach 15 billion euros in 2035 and 30 billion in 2045 if no additional reforms are implemented. In 2023, a surplus of 8,5 billion euros was recorded, but this is explained by cyclical effects linked to inflation and the...

February 21, 2025

News, SliderFrance, Pension Reform, Sustainability

19FebFebruary 19, 2025

France’s latest pensions battle could ignite fresh political crisis

President Emmanuel Macron braved strikes and street protests to force through a deeply unpopular reform in 2023 raising France's retirement age by two years to 64, saying it was the only way to keep the generous but costly pension system afloat. Now an assessment this week by the country's independent public audit office on the size of the pension deficit could rekindle debate about the divisive reform and plunge Macron's fragile, debt-laden government back into crisis. Francois Bayrou, Macron's latest prime minister, requested...

February 19, 2025

News, SliderFrance, Pension Reform

15JanJanuary 15, 2025

French PM to review Pension Reform

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said Tuesday his government will focus on stability, dialogue and profound reforms, especially on pensions. In his general policy speech, Bayrou emphasized the urgency of reducing France's historic public debt and achieving financial stability. "France has never been as indebted as it is today," he noted. To reduce the deficit to 5.4 percent of GDP by 2025 and further to around 3 percent by 2029, Bayrou urged all ministries to implement profound reforms. He announced plans...

January 15, 2025

News, SliderFrance, Pension Reform

21OctOctober 21, 2024

In France, senior citizens are (almost) king

It was highly symbolic. In the space of a few days, France went from having the youngest prime minister of the Fifth Republic, 35-year-old Gabriel Attal, to the oldest, Michel Barnier, 73. Beyond the political context, this change carries a particular significance at a time when the country is quietly going through a profound transformation: It is aging – and quickly. To prove the point, centenarians, rare 30 years ago, are now almost commonplace: There are around 30,000 of...

October 21, 2024

NewsAging, France

09OctOctober 9, 2024

French lawmakers weigh political risk of curbing boomers’ costly pensions

France's government has put the country's explosive pensions issue back on the agenda as it seeks to reduce a gaping budget hole. But this time, it wants pensioners to contribute to belt-tightening efforts themselves. It also wants lawmakers used to pandering to older voters to back it. Economists and analysts say that if France really wants to tackle its bloated public spending, the baby-boom generation - those born between 1946 and 1964 - must take a hit to their pensions,...

October 9, 2024

NewsFrance, Public Pensions, Public spending

30SepSeptember 30, 2024

Two million French seniors live in poverty: charity report

Two million seniors in France live below the poverty line, warns a charity that works to alleviate isolation amongst the elderly. It pointed to a rise in poverty, particularly among older women and people living alone. The poverty level of people aged 60 and older is on the rise, the Petits freres des pauvres (Little brothers of the poor) charity in its annual report published Monday. In 2024, some 11 percent of elderly people live under the poverty line, compared to eight...

September 30, 2024

NewsAdequacy, France, Income

26AugAugust 26, 2024

The Average Retirement Age in 2024: US vs. France

Do Americans really work themselves to death, as the media so often portrays? Likewise, do Europeans really avoid work like the plague? Of course not — but that doesn’t mean the retirement looks identical in countries like the US and France. While the average retirement age differs, so too do the benefit systems in each country. Consider the following facts as you compare retirement in the US to France, before booking a one-way ticket to the Continent. Also check out these reasons for using a financial advisor...

August 26, 2024

NewsFrance, Pension design, Retirement Age, US

23JulJuly 23, 2024

French leftists announce legislative steps to scrap Macron’s pension reform

-The leftist France Unbowed party announced legislative steps on Tuesday to try to scrap French President Emmanuel Macron's pension changes and reverse a rise in the legal retirement age to 64 from 62. The right-wing National Rally (RN) quickly offered its support for the legislation proposed by France Unbowed (LFI), potentially boosting its chances of winning parliamentary approval. Cancelling the pension reform, signed into law last year and aimed at protecting state finances and boosting productivity, is a key goal of...

July 23, 2024

NewsFrance, Pension Reform, Retirement Age

18JanJanuary 18, 2024

France joins list of countries where birth rates are declining

France’s population is older than ever, and its citizens are having fewer children. Just 678,000 babies were born in the country last year, the lowest number since 1946. The decline is primarily due to women having fewer children or none at all, according to Ined, France’s National Institute of Demographic Studies. The nation’s population still increased slightly last year, thanks to migration and a record high life expectancy of 85.7. These trends are not unique to France — births are...

January 18, 2024

NewsAging, France

23AugAugust 23, 2023

How French pensions will change on September 1st

To say Macron's pension reforms were controversial is a bit of an understatement - back in 2019 the reforms led to the longest continuous transport strikes ever seen in France. The legislation was paused during the pandemic, but when it was re-introduced in 2023 there followed months of strikes and the biggest street protests in France since 1968. More than 2 million people took to the streets and there were violent clashes in French cities including Paris, Rennes and Nantes. Eventually,...

August 23, 2023

NewsFrance, Pension Reform, Regulation

February 2025

France. Pensions: a deficit of 30 billion euros in 2045 without new reform

France’s latest pensions battle could ignite fresh political crisis

January 2025

French PM to review Pension Reform

October 2024

In France, senior citizens are (almost) king

French lawmakers weigh political risk of curbing boomers’ costly pensions

September 2024

Two million French seniors live in poverty: charity report

August 2024

The Average Retirement Age in 2024: US vs. France

July 2024

French leftists announce legislative steps to scrap Macron’s pension reform

January 2024

France joins list of countries where birth rates are declining

August 2023

How French pensions will change on September 1st